FORT SMITH (AP) — Arkansas highway officials stated they are about to begin a $79 million project to rehabilitate a stretch of Interstate 540 in western Arkansas.

The agency stated Friday that the work will involve seven miles of I-540 between Interstate 40 and Arkansas Highway 22 in the Fort Smith and Van Buren areas.

The project includes replacement of nine bridges and improvements to four bridges in Crawford and Sebastian counties. Highway officials said more than 50,000 vehicles travel the construction area daily.

The work is part of the 2011 Interstate Rehabilitation Program which has $1.2 billion devoted toward improving 450 miles of interstate highways in Arkansas.